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Activist defies Palaszczuk, locks on at Adani’s mine site

Emu Park based father John Williams locks-on to a drill rig, just a day after Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk announced penalties for climate protestors participating in civil disobedience. Photo: Frontline Action on Coal

A climate activist has locked on to machinery at Adani’s Carmichael coal mine site, in Central Queensland, a day after Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk announced penalties for climate protestors participating in civil disobedience.

Emu Park-based father John Williams locked on to a drill rig on August 21, in defiance of state government moves to outlaw lock-on devices, stopping work on the controversial project.

Frontline Action on Coal spokesperson Kim Croxford said Williams’ protest is “part of a growing, non-violent movement of concerned citizens determined to protect our wonderful world from the extreme impacts of climate and ecological breakdown”.

“Civil disobedience, including the use of lock-on devices, has a long and vital history of driving positive social change in Australia and around the world. It has been a key part of struggles for workers’ rights, gender equality, indigenous self-determination and environmental issues.

“If Premier Palaszczuk and Resources Council CEO Ian McFarlane are concerned about safety, they should consider the health impacts of continued inaction in the face of climate emergency.

“Those trying to protect our planet from corporate interests intent on destroying it for their own gain are not the ones who should be labeled reckless or selfish.

“With the devastating effects of the climate crisis already evident from the Arctic to the Pacific Islands, everyday people taking actions like this has never been more urgent and necessary.

“The climate crisis impacts us all. Increasing penalties will not stop good people standing up for the environment and one another.”

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In these days of growing media concentration, Green Left Weekly is a proudly independent voice committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality. By printing the news and ideas the mainstream media won't, Green Left Weekly exposes the lies and distortions of the power brokers and helps us to better understand the world around us.